What I want from a Nintendo Land update and sequel

Good news everyone! Nintendo Land has received an update announcement! You can read more about it here.

Sorry for that, but I didn’t pull a single prank all day yesterday and I figured it’s close enough to April 1st for one last gag. If you’re still reading, congratulations! You have passed the test, and can now read all about what I would want from a real Nintendo Land update.

Update to the Internet!

Yeah, the idea has been tossed around quite a bit that the popular Wii U launch title Nintendo Landshould receive an update. The main argument behind this is that the game should add online play for the multiplayer games. I think this is a fantastic idea for some of the games, but not so much for others.

Metroid Blast I could play for hours online. Honestly, I want to see more where that came from. The shooting mechanics, the aiming, going into morph ball mode, different levels, enemies, ground vs air, air vs ground, all of those things just fit together perfectly. If multiplayer like this isn’t incorporated in Nintendo’s future, I’m going to cry. I’d buy a standalone Metroid Blast game for just more levels and maybe a few more weapon choices.

Another one that might work decently online is The Legend of Zelda: Battle Quest. That one doesn’t require as much co-operation with the people around you, and it’s still more fun with others. Might be a good idea to allow there to be more than one archer though, as everyone with a Wii U has a gamepad, but not all of them are required to have motion plus controllers. If that ratio could be controlled and figured out, I could see it doing well online.

The ones that I personally don’t see working out as well are the co-operative games where you’re either chasing or being chased. I suppose I could see it happening if there was use of the gamepad microphone though. If this future update were to happen, I wouldn’t hold my breath though. Nintendo’s pretty notorious for wanting you to have little to no contact with those you interact with online. So for this example, I’m just going to assume there’s no mic system in place.

All of these attractions require working together to call out where the player with the gamepad is, whether chasing or being chased. I have my doubts about how well these games would work without screaming and yelling people in the same room as you. First, it would lose the fun factor of having your friends all gathered around the TV and getting super into the game like the good ol’ days. Second, I think they’d be boring. The games are phenomenal when played how they’re meant, but have you ever tried playing Mario Chase with just two people and two yoshi bots? That’s pretty much how I imagine the game would work online. Two lifeless drones besides yourself chanting out prerecorded phrases. I could be completely wrong though. Putting these games online could be really fun, but I guess I’d just have to play it to believe it.

Nintendo Land 2: Tycoon

I thought of that name because Nintendo Land is a game about a theme park, and so is Roller Coaster Tycoon. Then I got to thinking about how those two could share similarities. Then I got excited. Then I got a bagel (I hadn’t eaten yet today). Then I got more excited.

First of all, a Nintendo Land sequel needs more games and more multiplayer options. Not too many people I know play Nintendo Land by themselves. It’s a party game. It’s one that’s executed beautifully, but a party game nonetheless. Party games are meant to be played in groups of people, and having all those single player games just kills the mojo sometimes. Online play that addresses the issues above would be welcome as well.

Now to the part I’m excited about. What if there was a selection of games to choose from, and you had a little plot of land in a Nintendo dream zone (or whatever they come up with) that you can populate with minigames of your choosing? Other miis from Miiverse could enter your park and try out the games you have there, kind of inspired by how they just walk around your plaza aimlessly in today’s Nintendo Land. The more you build and expand your park, the more miis come and the more money you get. The more money you get means unlocking more games, attractions, and decorations for your park. Meanwhile, Monita is floating above your park, laughing maniacally at all the dough you’re making her. At long last, she can upgrade to some legs!

But then here’s the cooler part: other people can visit your park and play through a little set of three or so attractions you have set up, and then compare their score with others who have tried your park. You can leave your park open to friends, anyone online, or just you. Whoever you want it shared with is who it gets shared with. Also, they would be able to challenge you to multiplayer games if they so wished.

Another fun idea would be being able to make custom maps for Metroid Blast or what have you using a stage editor. Those stages could then be available for others to use when visiting your theme park, and downloadable if they like the stage. This would fix my problem of there not being enough stages for games like Animal Crossing: Sweet Day (Come on Nintendo, it’s like the best game and it only has two stages!).

So what do you think of my take on what the next Nintendo Land should be like? I’d be super pumped for it if these features were announced. I’m kind of proud of myself for coming up with it! Maybe I should try to snag a job at Nintendo… Let me know what you thought below!

Zorpix and Miiverse

To apologize for that April Fools joke at the beginning of this article, I’ve decided to give you a treat. Every single picture post I’ve made in the Nintendo Land community! Well, most of them. Either way, enjoy! The game for all of these is Nintendo Land, so I’m not going to be listing the title for each picture. Please understand!

Post Text: My mom and dad just happened to be next to each other XD

I was about to go a-flying on my next big adventure, and I guess my parents got a bit worried. Both of them stopped by to wish me well! It was just kinda funny to see it put them together. This game seems to know who out of my miis is dating or married… it always puts couples together for me!

Post Text: OH DANG OH DANG OH DANG OH DAAAAAAAAAANG!!!!

So, in Metroid Blast, you get to fight both Ridleys… at the same time… It is AWFUL. Me and my friend spent almost a whole night trying to beat them, and after about an hour of trying this mission alone, we finally did it. If you’re going to attempt this, remember to stay hidden as often as possible, and dodge, dodge, dodge!

Post Text: OM NOM NOM! It’s the candyphant!

I… I just love this game. This elephant whose head is near bursting is one of the many reasons why. It’s just so hilarious to watch them waddle around with heads full of candy.

Post Text: EAT IT, KRAID!!

This is how you get one of the stamps in the Metroid Blast attraction. You have to get inside Kraid’s belly and shoot him from in there. How you get in there I’ll keep a secret, but I will say that you need someone in a ship as well as someone on the ground to do it…

Post Text: Why does the gunship have VGA ports? XD

Just something fun I noticed. The gunship has VGA ports on its side. I think they’re in the correct order too! Someone can help correct me on that if I’m wrong… I wonder how the gunship displays video? Maybe it’s for in flight movies. Those ports are pretty large though… Maybe I was on the right track with my conspiracy theory a few weeks ago. Everything in the Nintendo world is tiny!

Post Text: Reminds me of claptrap from Borderlands 2. If I sound excited, that’s just my default tone of voice!

This just reminded me of Claptrap from the opening of Borderlands 2. I quoted him in the post text. I wonder who inspired who… Okay, they probably both thought of it on their own, but I still think both characters were entertaining when making jokes like this.

Post Text: LET IT RAAAAAAAAAAAIN!!!!!!!!!

For the last post, nothing feels better than watching your hard earned coins go sailing off into the abyss trying to fill the one hole you hadn’t been able to get just yet. Nintendo Land Plinko is a bit more costly than the Price is Right version though…

Wrapping up

Thank you all for reading this far, and please suggest more topics in the future! If you do happen to have any suggestions for next week’s topic, any questions about the content I wrote, or just wanna say hey, feel free to sound off below! If you really feel inclined, you can mosey on over to my Twitter, Facebook, or Miiverse account. Please don’t feel offended if I don’t respond to friend requests on the Wii U, as I reserve that for people I actually know in real life (usually…). I’ll gladly follow back though!

I’m also sad to announce that this will be the last Zorpix Den I ever write…

Around the web

Hey everyone! Game tycoon Zorpix here, ready to answer your questions and take your criticisms! Or compliments if you have them. I’ll take either!

WiiUisgaming

I click the link and guess what, I saw Spongebob. That was a good one.

https://twitter.com/Zorpix_Fang Zorpix

XD Gotcha!

SP-937-215

Me too. Nice one.

Interloper

I believe the inputs on the side of the ship are RCA ports, VGA are 13-pin ports primarily used for computer screen i/o.

Ducked

Everything you write sucks! No, I’m just kidding!!!!

I’m all down for a Nintendo Land sequel, they need to update the Zelda mini game where its free roam. I combat gets really sluggish after playing for a while. Also, they need to do something to make the Animal Crossing mini game more fun, like maybe going in different buildings to hide or something.

Ryan F

Online play would be cool. But I can think of several other games I’d rather see before Nintendoland 2.

I think the tepid Nintendoland presentation at E3 2012 was what cursed the console

SP-937-215

Go read up on Randnet and you will see that Nintendo’s online games have actually lost features since the Nintendo 64 era. The Gamecube didn’t really have much, but it had an MMO so that makes up for the rest, haha. Now all we have are leaderboards and anonymous online multiplayer.

Jon

Really, Nintendo Land really would have been great for online play. I loved it as it was, but only when friends came over because you really needed to play it with people to get the full enjoyment out of it. I honestly do not know why Nintendo didn’t go that way with it because it would have probably made a lot more people want a Wii U at launch. I just found it mind boggling how they focused a lot of the fact that the Wii U had a lot more online features than the Wii and so forth and then their signature game for the Wii U…. didn’t really utilize it. yeah you could meet other peoples Miis but…. that was it. like they could have made the F zero one easily multiplayer even they had it the way it was. Animal crossing, probably my favourite party game there would have been tons of fun. heck… all the multiplayer would have been awesome.

The Nintendo Land not being online is where I think Nintendo blew the launch, not the drought. The drought just added to it. But if they boast of an online system, their signature game for it, should have been online as well.

https://twitter.com/Zorpix_Fang Zorpix

totally agree. they were trying to prove that their online was on par with everyone else, and to this date haven’t made a game with online play for their own system

Nintenjoe82

wii sports?

https://twitter.com/Zorpix_Fang Zorpix

Shoot! Forgot about Wii Sports 😛 Knew I missed something. Thanks

Nintenjoe82

Dr Luigi

https://twitter.com/Zorpix_Fang Zorpix

gah… another crushing blow

Andrew W Garttmeyer

but…but…but… they still haven’t done it CORRECTLY! I will forever decry these claims of Wii Sports online being up to snuff in the gaming community until, and ONLY until, they allow me and my 3 other friends to face off against 4 other people in online bowling.

Nintenjoe82

Totally agree about the bowling. I only bought Tennis which is amazing when it works and painful when it doesnt. The matching and lag seem to have been fixed now though. Bowling and Golf are badly designed for online. It shouldn’t force you to watch and should definitely allow more than one Mii to have a profile on the same NNID.

Cyberus

Are we complaining about a PARTY GAME requiring friends to enjoy?

Jon

well, when you get down to it, it was the signature game for the Wii U which Nintendo boasted about the online capabilities of the Wii U… which didn’t have online. In fact, No Nintendo games currently for the Wii U have online

Cyberus

Games that need internet play will have internet play

Jon

lol, gotta love that excuse. Have you not noticed? there isn’t one game that Nintendo has released with online and yet they advertise their system for being a system that utilizes online…. You are obviously a blind sheep

Cyberus

Once again, it’s not as simple as cramming online to a game. Games that need it will have it. Pokèmon. Mario Kart 8. Super Smash Bros.

You can’t just staple online to a party game

Jon

and why not? those minigames would work fine for it. Even still. Why advertise that your system will be even better with the online capabilities when you don’t release games that utilize it when they are able to or would work quite well with it. The only one to this date is an incomplete one which is Wii U sports club. 2 if you count Mario and Sonic as Nintendo did work with Sega for that game but I don’t include it because it wasn’t Nintendo exclusively making that one.

Shaise

It would be great for an online update. And as for Nintendo Land 2: Tycoon. It sounds like a GREAT IDEA, and sounds like something I’d buy.

Nintenjoe82

I would just add a DLC StarFox dog fighting game, a rethink of the F-Zero game with sensible controls, some new Mario Chase stages and extra levels for everything else.

https://twitter.com/Zorpix_Fang Zorpix

Metroid blast was originally gonna be a starfox game, actually

steveb944

The only reason I got Nintendo Land was because it was bundled. It surely didn’t keep me as entertained as Wii Sports did with achievements. I’ll be skipping a potential sequel, and I hope they put their development into much more in depth titles which the Wii U needs. Party games can only take you so far.

wiiant

Totally disagree with this part:
“First, it would lose the fun factor of having your friends all gathered around the TV and getting super into the game like the good ol’ days. Second, I think they’d be boring.”
I have a blast with my friends on online games, mostly because we can all play together with mics even though we don’ live nearby. That’s what makes the fun factor – playing with friends, not the geographical locations of them.

SP-937-215

And when you are a working adult with a family, it’s nearly impossible to get your friends together in the same room at the same house to play a game. Online is our only feasible option, sadly. I wish Nintendo would acknowledge this.

https://twitter.com/Zorpix_Fang Zorpix

I go to college, so I guess I don’t experience this quite as much, as a lot of my friends are right here

https://twitter.com/Zorpix_Fang Zorpix

well sure. But keep in mind that I said this: “So for this example, I’m just going to assume there’s no mic system in place.” and I was also assuming playing with random people. not online friends.

SP-937-215

Never stop dreaming.

Ducked

Wow, you got me on that late April fool joke lol. Great article Zorpix. I’ve been thinking to myself since last fall that Nintendo Land needs a sequel. I’m also a huge fan of still playing Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 (my favorite simulation game).

I’d love to play Luigi’s Ghost Mansion, and Mario Chase online. My two favorite multiplayer games. Metroid Blast is my overall favorite game, the three games I mentioned would be great for online. Zelda I’m not as sure.

I think Nintendo should make a sequel like you said. Then bring back Metroid Blast, Luigi’s Ghost Mansion, Mario Chase, and Links Quest. (sorry I’m to lazy to look the actual name up) Then add more content to them, and online play. As well as add more mini games. Get a new mini game for Donkey Kong, I felt as the current DK one gets boring fast.

Anyways, once again, FANTASTIC article Zorpix! The Zorpix Den never lets me down. I also wouldn’t mind a Mario Party game with online multiplayer.

andrewjcole

I think the older RCT games were the best. Maybe it’s because i got so used to the engine and graphics, that when I played the third game, I couldn’t help but say “whaaaa?”

Ducked

I liked RCT 2 because it has weather in the game, and you could actually murder people in the game But RCT3 is still my favorite, I enjoy the 3D graphics, and having the option to ride the rides.

https://twitter.com/Zorpix_Fang Zorpix

i was wondering if I’d get any with that last jab ;P

Yeah, I want those to return as well.

I actually really liked the DK one. The ninja castle one was kinda… eh

thanks :3 I’m glad I don’t disappoint.

Again, mario party is just one of those games that i feel would get boring if played online…

Jeremy

Man you got me also. It’s funny we broke out the old Nintendoland this past weekend and played till 1am….(5 of us..all adults, actually played drinking Mario chase, Luigi mansion and animal crossing)

I would be happy with just an update with more maps, I realize it was a launch title and adding online (While it would be great!) probably wouldn’t happen, but I am sure they could release an update with some new levels & tweaks.

https://twitter.com/Zorpix_Fang Zorpix

yeah, the new levels would really be pretty easy and quick to add

andrewjcole

I agree! I also think the most of the attractions could have used way more stages.

Yousif Alromaithi

A Sequel, yes Zorpix, let them add better stuffs such as a big theme park to explore like Walt Disney for example. More mini games are welcome and also online play is also a bonus. The Nintendo Land, I spent over hundred Hours on those mini games. My favorite is Captain Falcon.

Ducked

I agree Nintendo should sell to Disney. Glad I’m not the only one who thinks that!

Yousif Alromaithi

Lol why. Mario in disney land that is a dream come true.

https://www.facebook.com/BlueLightningTechnicalServices Bob Wilkerson

Not sell but partner up. Nintendo + Disney would be unstoppable. Those two companies have some of the most lovable and known characters around the world.

Rob

No no. Not Disney. If anyone, they should partner with Apple. In the future, gaming may no longer be console dependent. In this case, it would be good to partner with a hardware company that a bigger audience already uses. Also, they can borrow some of their OS development experience (even though the WiiU does have a nice operating system).

bobacdigital

Nintendoland needs DLC more than it needs anything else… You should have been able to either add more attractions or maps for the most part. When me and my friends did play Nintendoland we would gravitate to a few games.. Mario Chase, Sweet Day, and Ghost Mansion.. Those 3 attractions BADLY needed added content ranging from more MAPS and possibly more powerups (maybe fire flower or speed boosts for chase)… I am assuming Nintendo deemed the game to be somewhat of a failure or a sunk cost and didnt want to waste any more resources on it ..

More maps were key to the success of this game .. The fact of the matter is Nintendo is stuck in their own ways and will need a big shakeup for them to become the company we all know they can be. They can still be different and make polished games.. But they need to come forward into the future and add features we have all become accustomed to on the other systems.

https://twitter.com/Zorpix_Fang Zorpix

Yeah, they had next to no content for those games. It’s fun, but it gets old quicker than it should..

Dark-Link73

No offense Zorpix but now that you’re writing articles for Wii U Daily on a weekly basis (“…daily on a weekly basis…” lol. That looked funny.), perhaps you should practice some formal writing techniques and basic grammar rules. You never know, this might be the beginning of an illustrious career in journalism. 😉

https://twitter.com/Zorpix_Fang Zorpix

well what do you suggest I fix in this article?

Dark-Link73

I don’t really have time to look every single error (besides, that is the job of the editor). However, here are a few that caught at a glance:

“Metroid Blast I could play for hours online.” The subject and the predicate are not in correct word order. Since in this sentence you are talking about yourself playing Metroid Blast, the correct order should be: “I could play Metroid Blast for hours online.” OR if you are using Metroid Blast an example, then it should look like this: “One good example of a Nintendo Land minigame that could benefit from adding online multiplayer experience, would be Metroid Blast. I could play that game online for hours!” Then you continue exploring valid points as to why it should have online multiplayer.

I also found a few missing periods in abbreviations. For example “vs.” I remember am intense in which you used “vs” as suppose to “vs.” Remember that “vs.” is an abbreviation to “versus”, therefore, it should have a period at the end when abbreviated.

Another error, and this is a big one, is when you wrote “Me and my friends….” The correct sentence is “My friends and I…”

I also found this major error: “This game seems to know who out of my miis is dating or married…” As written, the sentence has an awkward dependent clause (out of my miis). If we leave the sentence as is, then commas should be added to point out the dependent clause and avoid a run-on sentence: “This game seems to know who, out of my miis, is dating or married….” Even as such the sentence sounds non-standard. Perhaps the sentence should be re-worded as follows: “This game seems to know which ones of my miis are dating or married….”

These are just a few errors that I noticed, there are more throughout the text. Now please, don’t be discouraged. These observations are merely to help you improve your writing. I dint know your age, but if you’re not in college yet, you will be graded in the manner I pointed out when you work on your thesis paper. Even if you don’t go to college/university, if you have hopes of one day getting a job as a paid video game journalist for IGN, Game Informer, or any other video hand publication, online or magazine, these articles will serve you as part of your curriculum vitae when applying for those jobs. So why not learn the techniques now for proper writing? Who knows! Maybe one day you could be the next IGN correspondent to E3. 😉

https://twitter.com/Zorpix_Fang Zorpix

Thanks

Dark-Link73

Btw, don’t forget to proofread the crap out of your writings or you’ll end up with tons of spelling errors and/or words that don’t make any sense in the context on the sentence, just like I did on my last paragraph (stupid auto correct, lol).

FilipiCn

after EA, now Ubisoft.

https://www.facebook.com/BlueLightningTechnicalServices Bob Wilkerson

I love when these game companies claim to be partners with Nintendo and have good relationships with Nintendo but will only advertise with Microsoft and Sony. Apparently they are lying.

https://www.facebook.com/BlueLightningTechnicalServices Bob Wilkerson

Nintendo Land sequel… Nintendo World. It will be like Disney Land compared to Disney World.

Logan Wayman

I’d want a Kirby style minigame.

Blue Hernandez

“I’m also sad to announce that this will be the last Zorpix Den I ever write…”
I started screaming “NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!” in my head and then I read the next line…You cheeky bastard! XP

https://twitter.com/Zorpix_Fang Zorpix

XD I didn’t realize people liked my articles so much ;P sorry for the scare!

greengecko007

Excellent article Zorpix and your best yet in my opinion!

https://twitter.com/Zorpix_Fang Zorpix

oh really? Thank you!

Forbsz

I want to play luigis mansion one online that would be so fun having to work together with people across the world to catch the ghost

Michael Ocampo

Oh man phew… I thought this was the last Zorpix Den but then I quickly realized it was another joke

https://twitter.com/Zorpix_Fang Zorpix

XD Nah, I’m still around!

Michael Ocampo

Good to hear Your articles keep this place fresh and interesting!

https://twitter.com/Zorpix_Fang Zorpix

Well thanks! I’m glad to hear that people like my articles. Sometimes I start thinking they’re just a bit too out there…

rp17

There needs to be a sequel or DLC or something. They left out Kirby, Star Fox, Earthbound, and Pokemon. They could even add Fire Emblem, Kid Icarus, or Golden Sun.

Magnus Eriksson

Good article. I loved Metroid too, but wish it got more levels. Luigi Mansion should get more levels, and preferable bigger too, Never cared too much about the Zelda though. Chase and Animal Crossing is the favourite games of the kids, so yeah. Would like to see an update there aswell.

David Trail

Wow no negativity. Shocker.

David Trail

Update to Nintendo Lnad to play online would be cool. Also a sequel Nintendo World/ Paradise?

C4

I’d like more minigames which are enjoyable (F-Zero with more stages, Zelda with free movement for example) alone or with just 2 players. Of course online would help, but still I think some of the games wouldn’t be the same in online MP. Maybe add some sports like jet skiing, curling or table games. And add diversity to the hub world like more areas to explore.

Mario Garth

This ain’t funny

Rob

Metroid blast was really good. I think they should just make it a full game so we can have some Metroid goodness on the Wii U.